Vertical graining machine

ABSTRACT

AN IMPROVED VERTICAL GRAINING MECHANINE, FOR GRAINING ARTICLES HAVING TAPERED OR STRAIGHT SIDES AND BEING ROUND, SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR IN CROSS SECTION AND PROVIDED WITH ROUNDED CORNERS, OF THE TYPE HAVING A FRAME WITH A HORIZONTAL SURFACE MOUNTING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL MASTER AND PRINTING ROLLS, THE MASTER ROLL HAVING A GRAINING PATTERN ETCHED THEREON AND BEING CONTINGUOUS WITH THE PRINTING ROLL, INKING MEANS TO INK THE MASTER ROLL, GEAR MEANS JOINING THE MASTER AND PRINTING ROLLS, DRIVE MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN THE FRAME AND CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO AT LEAST THE PRINTING ROLL, AND WORK HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE ARTICLES TO BE GRANTED CONTIGUOUS WITH THE PRINTING ROLL. THE WORK HOLDING MEANS COMPRISS A VERTICAL BACK-UP PRESSURE ROLL, A PRESSURE ROLL DRIVE SHAFT ADJACENT THE FRAME AND COAXIAL WUTH THE PRESSURE ROLL, THE DRIVE SHAFT MOUNTING THE PRESSURE ROLL AT ONE END THEREOF AND BEING PIVOTAL ABOUT THE OTHER END SO AS TO ADJUST THE POSITION OF THE PRESSURE ROLL AS DESIRED, THE PRESSURE ROLL DRIVE SHAFT BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO THE DRIVE MEANS OF THE GRAINING MACHINE SO THAT THE SURFACE SPEED OF THE LARGE BASE OF THE PRESSURE ROLL IS SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL WITH THE SURFACE SPEED OF THE PRINTING ROLL, AND MEANS TO LOCK THE PRESSURE ROLL DRIVE SHAFT AND THUS THE PRESSURE ROLL IN A DESIRED POSITION.

Nov. 23, w71 K. G. sAvKE VERTICAL GRAINING MACHNE Filed may 18,. 1970 lNvENTOR/s /u 6. SAV/z5,

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ATTOR N EYS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 101-38 R 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An improved vertical graining machine, for graining articles having tapered or straight sides and being round, square or rectangular in cross section and provided with rounded corners, of the type having a frame with a horizontal surface mounting substantially vertical master and printing rolls, the master roll having a graining pattern etched thereon and being contiguous with the printing roll, inking means to ink the master ro'll, gear means joining the master and printing rolls, drive means mounted within the frame and connected directly to at least the printing roll, and work holding means for holding the articles to be grained contiguous with the printing roll. The work holding means comprises a vertical back-up pressure roll, a pressure roll drive shaft adjacent the frame and Icoaxia'l with the pressure roll, the drive shaft mounting the pressure roll at one end thereof and being pivotal about the other end so as to adjust the position of the pressure roll as desired, the pressure roll drive shaft being operatively connected intermediate its ends to the drive means of the graining machine so that the surface speed of the large base of the pressure roll is substantially identical with the surface speed of the printing roll, and means to lock the pressure roll drive shaft and thus the pressure roll in a desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to vertical graining machines for graining and ornamenting hollow articles, and more particularly to an improved work holding means for holding the articles to be grained contiguous with the printing roll.

(2) Description of the prior art Vertical graining machines for graining hollow articles have long been known in the art. In general, such machines include a frame with a horizontal surface mounting substantially vertical master and printing rolls, the master roll having a graining pattern etched thereon and being contiguous with the printing roll. Inking means are provided to ink the master roll. Gear means join the master and printing rolls and drive means are mounted within the frame and connected directly to at least the printing roll. Work holding means are provided for holding the articles to be grained contiguous with the printing roll. As the drive means drives the printing and master rolls, the inking means applies ink to the master roll and the pattern thereon is transferred to the printing roll and then to the sides of the hollow article.

While the various prior art graining machines have proven to be successful in many respects, in some respects they have been much less than satisfactory. For example prior art graining machines have been unsuccessful in satisfactorily graining hollow articles having tapered or straight sides and being round, square or rectangular in cross section and provided with rounded corners. This is so because the prior art graining machines have all utilized a holding means for the articles to be grained comprising a rotatable chuck adjacent to the printing roll.

The chuck was generally mounted upon an adjustable tilt table for purposes of endeavour-ing to compensate for the varying tapers of the sides of the articles to be grained. However, the chuck holding means and the adjustable tilting table have proven to be extremely unsatisfactory because they do not provide adjustment for the differences in circumference on hollow articles having tapered sides, resulting in at spots in graining on the sides thereof. Accordingly, substantial rejects and excessive time, labor and manufacturing expense are incurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides improved -work holding means for holding the articles to be grained contiguous with the printing roll of a vertical graining machine as previously described. Briefly, the work holding means comprises a substantially vertical back-up pressure roll of a length equal to the inside depth of the articles to be grained. The pressure roll is adjustable from a first po- -sition in full line contact against the printing roll to a second position spaced therefrom. A pressure roll drive shaft is positioned adjacent the frame of the vertical graining machine and coaxial with the pressure roll, the drive shaft mounting the pressure roll at one end thereof and being pivotal about the other end so as to adjust the position of the pressure roll as desired. The pressure roll drive shaft is operatively connected intermediate its ends to the drive means so that the surface speed of the large base of the pressure roll is substantially identical with the surface speed of the printing roll. Means are provided to lock the pressure roll drive shaft and thus the pressure rol'l is a desired position. Accordingly, when the locking means is released and the pressure roll is in a position spaced from the printing roll, the hollow articles to be grained may be placed thereon and then the pressure roll may be moved to its first position in full length line contact against the printing roll. As the drive means drives the printing and master rolls, the inking means applies ink to the master roll and the pattern thereon is transferred to the printing roll and then to the sides of the hollow article. The pattern so transferred is free of flat spots and satisfactory in all respects. Additionally, it is possible to readily adjust the holding means to accom` modate a variety of hollow articles having varied tapered or straight sides and being round, square or rectangular in cross section and provided with rounded corners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing an airk cylinder and timer locking means controlled by a hand lever or foot pedal.

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevational view showing a second embodiment for operatively connecting the drive shaft andthe drive means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning rst to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a typical vertical graining machine 10, for graining hollow articles having tapered or straight sides and being round, square or rectangular in cross section and provided with rounded corners, includes a frame 12 with a horizontal surface 12a mounting substantially vertical master and printing rolls 16 and 18, respectively. The master roll 16 is provided with any desired graining pattern etched thereon and is contiguous with the printing roll 18. Any desirable inking means 14 may be provided to ink the master roll 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the inking means may comprise an ink reservoir 17 communicating with a pipe having a nozzle 15a which traverses the length of the master roll 16. However, it will be understood that the inking means 14 may also comprise an inking roll or the like. Gear means 20 join the master and printing rolls 16 and 18, respectively, and drive means 22, such as a motor and drive linkage mounted within the frame 12, are connected directly to at least the printing roll 18.

The work holding means 28 for holding the hollow articles 30 to be grained contiguous with the printing roll 18 comprises a substantially vertical back-up pressure roll 32 of a length equal to the inside depth of the hollow articles 30 to be grained. The pressure roll 32 is adjustable from a first position, in full length line contact against the printing roll 18, to a second position spaced therefrom. A pressure roll drive shaft 34 is mounted adjacent the frame 12 and coaxial with the pressure roll 32. The drive shaft mounts the pressure roll at one end 34a thereof, and is pivotal about the other end 34b so as to adjust the position of the pressure roll 32 as desired. The pressure roll drive shaft 34 is operatively connected intermediate its ends to the drive means 22, so that the surface speed of the large base 32a of the pressure roll 32 is substantially identical with the surface speed of the printing roll 18.

As will be more fully explained hereinafter, means are provided to lock the pressure roll drive shaft 34, and thus the pressure roll 32, in a desired position. Accordingly, when the locking means is released and the pressure roll 32 is in a position spaced from the printing roll 18, the hollow articles 30 to be grained may be placed thereon and then the pressure roll 32 may be moved to its first position in full length line contact against the printing roll 18.

According to a preferred embodiment the pivoted end 34b of the drive shaft 34 turns in a bearing 36, which is mounted in a bearing block 38 and support 40 attached to the lower end 12b of the frame 12. As can be seen, the support 40 comprises appropriate angles and the bearing 36 is pivotally connected to the bearing block 38 through the pin 42. The bearing block 38 is adjustable along the legs 41 of the angle supports 40. Accordingly, the pressure roll angle may be adjusted as desired.

It will, of course, be understood that the pressure roll may be frusto-conical, as shown at 32 in FIGS. 1-3, or straight, as shown at 33 in FIG. 6, and that it may be made of any acceptable material and attached to the drive shaft 34 as desired. However, a rubber pressure roll molded around the end 34a of the drive shaft 34 has been found preferable.

As was hereinbefore explained, the pressure roll drive shaft 34 may be operatively connected to the drive means 22 as desired so long as the surface speed of the large base 32a of the pressure roll 32 is substantially identical with the surface speed of the printing roll 18. For example, this may be accomplished by utilizing two rubber discs 44 and 46, one of discs 44 being positioned around the drive shaft 34 and the other disc 46 being positioned around the drive linkage 26 of the drive means 22. In order to obtain a more positive drive for the drive shaft 34, the disc 44 on the drive shaft 34 may be of metal with the contact edge knurled.

The pressure roll drive shaft 34 may also be operatively connected to the drive means 22 as shown in FIG. 6. There the rubber disc 46 is provided with sprocket teeth 47 which mesh with the sprocket chain 50 mounted around the disc 48 on the pressure roll drive shaft 34. The disc 48 may also be provided with a knurled metal block 52, handle means 56 to actuate the pressure cam 54,

and release spring means 58 to pull the drive shaft 34 away from the graining machine 10 when the pressure cam 54 is released by the handle means 56. As can be seen, the floating bearing block 52, the pressure cam 54, the handle means 56 and the spring means 58 are suitably mounted between the parallel supports 60 extending from the frame 12. When the handle 56 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the pressure cam 54 holds the floating bearing block 52 in a fixed position. When the handle 56 is released, releasing the pressure cam 54, the spring 58, one end of which is attached to the floating bearing block S2 and the other end of which is attached to the supports 60, pulls the drive shaft 34 away from the graining machine 10. This movement spaces the pressure roll 32 from the printing roll 18 and allows for the positioning or removal of the hollow article 30 from on top of the pressure roll 32.

The means to lock the pressure roll drive shaft 3-4, and thus the pressure roll 32 in a desired position may also comprise the air cylinder 62 and timer 64, which are controlled by the hand lever or foot pedal 67, shown in FIG. 5.

In a preferred embodiment it has also been found desirable to position an adjustable guide plate 66 immediately beneath the pressure roll 32 to support the article 30 to be grained. The guide plate `66 is, of course, mounted upon the frame 12 and is vertically adjustable so that it will support a variety of articles 30 which may be mounted on the pressure roll 32. Accordingly, the pressure roll 32 will accommodate round and oval articles.

It is also preferable that the angle or taper on the roller 32 should be substantially the same as the angle or taper on the side of the article 30 to be grained. Additionally, if the hollow article to be grained is tapered and provided with differing corner radii, the roller 32 should be frustoconical and the radius of each base thereof should not be greater than the smallest corner radius. Accordingly, the pressure roll 32 will satisfactorily roll around the inside radius of the item. It should also be noted that, if the corner angle of the hollow article is different than the side angle thereof, the pressure roll 32 will roll around the corners and adjust to that angle. In doing so the pressure roll 32 will lift the article 30 upwardly for full line contact against the printing roll 18.

In operation, the proper pressure roll angle 68 for the article 30 to be grained may be quickly and accurately achieved by adjusting the bearing block 38 along the legs 41 of the -support angles 40. When the desired angle 68 has been achieved, the article 30 is then placed on top of the back-up pressure roll 32,. The locking means then locks the pressure roll 32 in position against the printing rolls 18. For example, the handle 56 cams the pressure cam S4 against the floating bearing block 52. The guide plate 66 is then satisfactorily adjusted to support the article 30. As the drive means 22 drives the master and printing rolls 16 and 18, respectively, the inking means 14 applies ink to the master roll 16 and the pattern thereon is transferred to the printing roll 18 and then to the sides 31 of the hollow article 30 as they rotate between the printing and pressure rolls 18 and 28, respectively, the surface speed of which is identical.

Due to the fact that the pressure roll 28 is in full length line contact against the printing roll 18 throughout the entire graining operation, flat spots in grainin'g on the sides 31 of the hollow articles 30 are completely eliminated.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is to be given its broadest interpretation within the terms ofthe following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vertical graining machine, for graining hollow articles having tapered or straight sides and being round, square or rectangular in cross section and provided with rounded corners, of the type having a frame with a horizontal surface mounting substantially vertical master and printing rolls, said master roll having a ygraining pattern etched thereon and being contiguous with said printing roll, inking means to ink said master roll, gear means joining said master and printing rolls, drive means mounted within said frame and connected directly to at least said printing roll, and work holding means for holding said hollow articles to be grained contiguous with said printing roll, whereby as said drive means drives said master and printing rolls, said inking means applies ink to said master roll and the pattern thereon is transferred to said printing roll and then to the sides of said hollow article, the improvement, in combination therewith, wherein said holding means comprises a substantially vertical back-up pressure roll of a length equal to the inside depth of the hollow articles to be grained, said pressure roll being adjustable from a `first position in full length line contact against said printing roll to a second position spaced therefrom; a pressure roll drive shaft adjacent said frame and coaxial with said pressure roll, said drive shaft mounting said pressure roll at one end thereof and being pivotal about the other end so as to adjust the position of said pressure roll as desired, said pressure roll drive shaft being operatively connected intermediate its ends to said drive means so that the surface speed of said pressure roll is substantially identical with the surface speed of said printing roll; and means to lock said pressure roll drive shaft and thus said pressure roll in a desired position, whereby when said locking means is released and said pressure roll is in a position spaced from said printing roll, said hollow article to be grained may be placed thereon and then said pressure roll may be moved to its rst position in full length line contact against said printing roll.

2. The graining machine according to claim 1, wherein the pivoted end of said drive shaft turns in a bearing which is mounted in a bearing block and support attached to the lower end of said frame.

3. The graining machine according to claim 2, wherein said pressure roll is rubber and molded around one end of said drive shaft.

4. The graining machine according to claim 3, wherein said pressure roll is frusto-conical.

5. The graining machine according to claim 4, wherein said pressure roll drive shaft is operatively connected to said drive means by at least two smooth thick rubber discs in mating contact, one of said discs being positioned around said pressure roll drive shaft.

6. The graining machine according to claim 4, wherein said dri-ve shaft is operatively connected to said drive means by a sprocket gear associated with said drive means and by a sprocket chain operatively connected to adisc positioned around said pressure roll drive shaft, the teeth of said sprocket gear meshing with said sprocket chain.

7. The graining machine according to claim 6, wherein said sprocket gear comprises a smooth rubber disc having teeth around the periphery at one edge thereof, and wherein said disc positioned around said pressure roll drive shaft is provided with a knurled surface contiguous with the surface of said smooth rubber disc.

8. The graining machine according to claim 4, wherein said locking means comprises a floating bearing block positioned intermediate the ends of said drive shaft, a. pressure cam contiguous with said floating bearing block, handle means to actuate said pressure cam, and release spring means to pull said drive shaft away from said graining machine when said pressure cam is released by said handle means.

9. The graining machine according to claim 4, wherein said locking means comprises an air cylinder and timer and actuating means therefor.

10. The graining machine according to claim 4, wherein an adjustable guide plate is positioned immediately beneath said pressure roll to support said article to be grained, said guide plate being vertically adjustable so that said pressure roll will accommodate round and oval articles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 1874 Jennings. 11/ 1917 Moses.

U.S. C1. X.R.

lOl-366 

